The following is an e-mail exchange between myself and James Pate, who
I believe is the Air Traffic Manager at Trenton-Mercer Airport. Its
ridiculous the lengths these guys will go to avoid responsibility for
augmenting the ASOS.

From: "Raymond C. Martin, Jr."
To: James Pate
Subject: Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 15:12:42 -0800 (PST)

--- James Pate wrote:
Mr. Martin,
Could you please provide me with the date and
times the ASOS wasn't augmented? I will check
with the weather service. Also please note the
ASOS is never augmented during hours when the
tower is closed. Please feel free to contact me
with feedback about this problem 609-882-4422.
Thank you for your concern...Jim Pate Air Traffic
Manager Trenton Tower

Here are the observations from the afternoon of March
8, 2005:

KTTN 081653Z 34022G31KT 1 3/4SM -SN OVC014 M02/M06
A2912 RMK AO2 PK WND 32031/1649 SLP854 P0000
T10221061 $=

KTTN 081753Z 33023G31KT 1/2SM FZFG BKN003 OVC012
M04/M07 A2911 RMK AO2 PK WND 34031/1753 SNEMM
SLP851 P0001 60012 T10441067 10078 21044 50001 $=

KTTN 081853Z 32013G23KT 1SM -SN BKN005 OVC013
M05/M08 A2911 RMK AO2 PK WND 32031/1754 SNB43 SLP851
P0001 T10501078 $=

Note the middle observation is lacking the snow
(only reporting freezing fog) and is missing a snow
end time (SNEMM). It appears that the precipitation
sensor failed, but no correction was issued indicating
the moderate snow falling at the time, per nearby
observations and radar.


--- James Pate wrote:
Good morning Mr. Martin,
I just had to get into work and verify the logs
from March 8th. I was the observer on duty for
the 3 observations you noted. The Freezing fog was
correct. Although there was snow in the area, the
1753Z obscuration to visibility was freezing fog
and not snow. The ASOS takes a snapshot of what
is in the vicinity at the time of the observation.
With 1/2 mile visibility, which was verified by ground
referance points, it could be possible to have snow
on the approach end of RWY 24 and neither the
ASOS or observer would be able to observe it.
Please call me about this at 609-882-4422. Thank
you very much for your feedback...Jim Pate ATM
Trenton FCT

I'm sorry, but you are just plain lying. Are you
really going to tell me that this radar was completely
wrong and no precipitation was falling at the time????
http://www.njfreeways.com/weather/da...0Z-08Mar05.gif
This is a constant problem from KTTN, observations
which are NEVER corrected. You guys do absolutely no
work, in regards to augmentation. I'm gonna be honest
with you, I'm actually a meteorologist from the area
and pay close attention to the KTTN observations all
the time, especialy during snow, and they are NEVER
augmented at all. I've seen so many times when the
precip sensor failed and all that was reported was
freezing fog, when it was clearly snowing moderatley
to heavily.

You make me sick, sir.

=====
Raymond C. Martin, Jr.
Associate Meteorologist, AccuWeather Inc.-
http://www.accuweather.com/
New Jersey Expressways and Tollways - http://www.njfreeways.com/
Ray's Winter Storm Archive - http://www.njfreeways.com/weather/

=====
Raymond C. Martin, Jr.
Associate Meteorologist, AccuWeather Inc.- http://www.accuweather.com/
New Jersey Expressways and Tollways - http://www.njfreeways.com/
Ray's Winter Storm Archive - http://www.njfreeways.com/weather/